Beltronics Vector V940 Radar Detector
- Full X, K, SuperWide Ka, Ku, and laser alert, plus Safety Warning System message display in an easy-to-use laser/radar detector
- Digital signal processing (DSP) technology and multiple laser sensors give you long-range performance, and greatly reduce the number of false alarms
- Ultra-bright 280-LED alphanumeric display
- Immune to VG-2 radar detector detection, so law enforcement cannot detect its use
- One-year limited warranty
The Beltronics V940 is the most advanced radar, laser and safety detector ever designed by Beltronics. It includes full X, K, SuperWide Ka, and Safety Warning System radar capability, front and rear laser detection varactor-tuned (VTO) microwave receiver, digital signal processing (DSP) for superior range and reduced false alarms, our patented Mute and AutoMute, audible and visual band alerts, and all the performance you’d expect from Beltronics.Amazon.com Product Description The Beltronics Vect
List Price: $ 169.99
Price: $ 114.95
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Best bang for the buck.,
I had used Escort radar detectors exclusively for 15 years and thought they were the best detectors for the price. Earlier this year, however, I used an Escort 8500 X50 for a lengthy driving trip and found it just barely adequate.
I had a 5K mile driving trip to take a few weeks ago so I took a chance on this unit. I’m so glad I did. What a great product! The performance of this unit BLOWS the Escort 8500 X50 out of the water. I mean blows it right out of the water. I got warnings with this unit WAY before I needed them, whereas I got them just in time with the 8500. Perhaps more importantly, I got virtually no false warnings with this unit whereas I got them ALL THE TIME with the Escort unit. The Escort unit had me braking every 3 miles for what turned out to be nothing almost every time. Again when it counted–when it was real police–the Escort only warned me a split second or two before I would have been nabbed.
I am so seriously impressed with the advance warning range of this unit, the incredibly low false warning ratio, and the bargain price of the unit. It delivers WAY more than the Escort 8500 X50 for half the price! It is one of the most cleat cut comparisons I have ever experienced; no fine line here. I am surprised that Escort gets away with delivering such mediocre results for your detector buying dollar.
I found out about this unit by conducting extensive internet research and I’m happy to say the tests found on the internet were accurate. The only way to step up to a higher level of performance will be to buy the Valentine unit for 4-5 times the price of this unit. If you are like me then you can’t afford the Valentine so you are looking for other options. I respectfully argue that this is the best value (performance for price ratio) in all non-Valentine units.
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|First impression,
First: the Amazon picture of the V940 is not correct. The unit that I received looks identical to the V955. This is why I’m reviewing so quickly.
Second: I thought that the mounting bracket was so small that a mistake had been made. But the mounting method is very clever, adjustable and easy to perform. It can be mounted in even a sweeping windshield. The suction cups have exceptional grip to them. Well done.
Third: Round trip on the LIE and zero false alarms.
Forth: The instructions recommend using in the highway mode, which I did. Therefore why would any of the more expensive and expansive Bels be necessary.
Fifth: The only negative so far. The top of the unit is gray. Black would have been preferable and less reflective. I found some cross-stitch material at Michael’s, traced an outline of the gray area, cut out 5 holes, glued it onto the Bel, and now I have no more complaints.
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|“Good Price, Good Performance, not too Shabby”,
I’ve had my Beltronics Vector 940 for about two weeks. This is my first radar detector, and it seems to be getting the job done, and well at that. I’ve done a lot of research on radar detectors, and have been able to weed out the sub-par brands and models. I’d heard nothing but good things about Bel, Whistler, and Escort detectors, and only the former two had products in my price range (sub-two hundred).
I’d actually put off buying a radar detector for a few months, to save for a few other things on my car, and after Whistler’s Pro-78 (Whistler PRO-78 Laser-Radar Detector with Real Voice Alerts, POP Mode Detection, INTELLICORD ready) went out of production–which had been my pick–I saw it’s update model and it had less than desirable reviews. Finally, about a month ago, I decided on finally getting a detector, and had my eyes set on Bel’s Vector series. It was between the V995, V955, and V940. Long story short, I saw no real reason in going for the more than two hundred dollar V995, and since the V940 was on Amazon for only a hundred around Black Friday/Cyber Monday Weekend, there was no real reason to spend the extra fifty dollars on the V955.
To give you an idea of the environment my V940 inhabits; I drive a four-door Cutlass with non-metallic, black window tinting (front sides, and all rear windows; nothing on the windshield but factory AS1). I also mount my detector low on the windshield. At first I mounted it above my rear-view mirror, but have since moved it lower to increase the potential of it detecting LIDAR/laser signals. I have my V940 about four to five inches directly above the dash on the windshield. I also made sure that the front of the detector (toward the front of the car) well above the wipers in their normal resting place. The manual says to make sure the detector’s sight isn’t inhibited by anything, like the wipers.
Pros:
+ Good range. On the highway (typically I-170 in STL) I travel daily, there are departments posted at any given time of day–it gives very accurate alerts, plenty of time for me to get back down to sixty-five. At worst, I’d say the V940 is able to give me some kind of alert at least a fourth of a mile–whether counter-bound or en route. I’ve seen the detector alert me a good half-mile, plus on the highway as well.
On city streets, for example, I was able to run a good test of the V940 once at night on a drive home. Sitting at a light, I noticed I was getting a steady single bar of K-band. I knew the particular intersection I was stopped had never given me any false-alerts so I was pretty sure there was an active cruiser shooting somewhere around me. I looked closely up the road while still stopped and noticed flashing lights about a half-mile ahead. I took a little detour to see if it really was him shooting radar… long story short, moving towards the flashing lights, I was able to confirm it was a cop who’d pulled someone over, and he was still shooting radar.
+ Solid Construction. The detector seems to have a good build. We’ll see how it holds up after sitting in my glove box or somewhere in the console when it’s 3 and 93 degrees outside (even worse in the car).
+ A few customizables. The `program’ mode on the V940 allows you to change a few things. You can opt to not have the startup chirp test (which can immediately be skipped, temporarily, by pressing the Power button again during the test); change the standby display (having it say `H’ or `C’ instead of Highway or City); toggle `Auto Mute’ which will mute the X-alerts after a few chirps.
+ Voice Alerts. This is a nice feature. I remember being fascinated by my dad’s radar detectors years ago when I was younger (he’s the ultimate lead-footer). It was nothing but random beeps and lights to me–but the V940 will begin beeping (about twice) and a male voice will say “kay-band” (K-band) or “kay-aye-band” (Ka-band) for the alerts. I have yet to be hit with LIDAR/laser or to enter a SAFETY zone (which it will also alert you to apparently), so I can’t exactly speak to how he says those–if he does.
+ Brightness modes. I’m sure most detectors probably have this kind of array of levels of brightness for the display. The V940′s levels include: Bright Max, Med, and Min, and a Dark mode. The Dark mode will take away the `Highway’ or `City’ standby display, and any potential strength bars when detecting any radar and alerting you. Instead it will show a smaller, dimmed “HD” or “CD” for Highway dark or City dark, and will, obviously, include the audible alerts.
+ Price. For performance, the price seems pretty right.
Semi-Cons:
- Customizables & Features. Although it does allow you to tweak a few settings, there aren’t too many frills with this detector–and I didn’t expect any. It gets the…
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